Hyper Piper gets stakes test

Trainer Sam David Jr. is hopeful Hyper Piper will get the right kind of pace setup on Friday night, when she attempts to win her third straight race in the $65,000 Lookout at Delta Downs.

The Lookout is restricted to Louisiana-bred fillies and mares who have never won a stakes race. It will be run over one mile and drew a full field of 10.

Others set to start include Pera, runner-up in the $50,000 Si Cima, an overnight turf stakes in November at Fair Grounds; and Long Legged Model, the fourth-place finisher in the $100,000 Magnolia in October at Delta.

KEY CONTENDERS

Hyper Piper, by Old Fashioned Last 3 Beyers: 83-72-57

◗ Hyper Piper will be making her stakes debut after winning a Delta allowance over 7 1/2 furlongs Nov. 17. Hyper Piper overcame post 10, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 83 that she earned defeating open company is the best career and last-race number in the Lookout.

“She’s got a real good running style for the race there,” David said Wednesday from Fair Grounds. “There’s a little bit of speed in there, and she likes to stalk. It looks like it could set up pretty good. You never know until it does, but her running style puts her in a good part of the race.”

◗ Hyper Piper will break from post 4 under Timothy Thornton. She shows a pair of five-furlong works at Fair Grounds since the allowance at Delta.

“She really ran an exceptional race for us and has been training good,” David said. “I expect her to run good. She can improve off that race a little bit. It was her first time out in a while.”

◗ Hyper Piper races for her breeders, John Duvieilh, Keith Hernandez, and Earl Hernandez.

Pera, by Drosselmeyer Last 3 Beyers: 60-74-68

◗ She is moving back to the main track after a trio of turf starts, including a third-place finish $60,000 River Cities in September at Louisiana Downs.

◗ Pera is a three-time winner on dirt, and those victories have all come at Delta.

◗ Ashley Broussard has the mount for HP Thoroughbreds and trainer Ricky Courville.

Long Legged Model, by Unbridled’s Heart Last 3 Beyers: 63-66-71

◗ She was an 8 1/2-length allowance winner at Louisiana Downs in August, one start prior to finishing fourth in the Magnolia, which was won by multiple stakes winner Mr. Al’s Gal.